Kid Rock hints at Senate run announcement

Musician Kid Rock responded Thursday to reports of his rumored run for Senate in Michigan by ripping the news media, but continued to hint that he does intend to announce a Senate bid.

In a brief message posted Thursday afternoon, Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, writes that he’s “got 15 days from my announcement to file paperwork with the FEC [Federal Election Commission]!”

On Wednesday, Ritchie hinted at a Senate run in 2018, confirming that a campaign website with his name is real and teasing that he will have a “major announcement in the near future.”

The only link currently on the campaign site is a link to his merchandise through Warner Bros. Records and reports noted he hadn’t yet filed with the FEC, prompting Ritchie’s criticism of the media.

“Second, I’m not signed to Warner Bros,” he continues, “which simple fact-checking would have revealed. I have recently worked out a unique deal with BMG, Broken Bow, CAA and Live Nation to release music ON MY TERMS.”

He also hinted at a major announcement at midnight Friday.

“Like politicians write books during their campaigns, I’m planning on putting out music during mine and IT ALL STARTS TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT. It’s not a hoax.”

In the post, he also called out potential Democratic challenger, incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

“Senator Stabenow and I do share a love of music, although probably not the same kind,” Ritchie says.

“I concede she is better at playing politics than I am so I’ll keep doing what I do best, which is being a voice for tax paying, hardworking AMERICANS and letting politicians like her know that We the People are sick and tired of their bullshit!”

Stabenow had responded to Ritchie’s Wednesday announcement with a fundraising pitch, warning that after President Trump’s surprise victory in November, anything is possible.

“This afternoon, Kid Rock tweeted out that he was going to have a big announcement and hinted that he was going to challenge me for the U.S. Senate,” a Wednesday email from her campaign read.

“We don’t know if this is real or just a publicity stunt,” the email to supporters continued. “But after Donald Trump’s surprising win last year, we need to act fast.”